Rising Force
IV
Feb 27, 1994
A warm welcome to our newest subscriber - Janell Duxbury - who will
hopefully include our submissions in a future edition of a book we'd all
love to get our hands on! Read on!
--Yngwie news----
From: [email protected]>
Yngwie's new album will be released Feb 18 in Japan.
The title is "Seventh Sign". New vocalist is Mike V...(ex.Loudness).
His album "Fire & Ice" was No.1 album chart in Japan. (This chart
includes Japanese singers!!!!!) Yngwie's latest intervirew be appeard in
Burrn!.(Buurn! is a Japanese Heavy Metal Magazine.) A cover of this
magazine is Yngwie.
From: Christi [email protected]>
I heard the album is released only in Japan! Is this really true?
From: Nuno [email protected]>
I find this hard to believe but apparently Yngwie is playing club dates
in the southeast right now. After I see RUSH in Charlotte on Friday,
my friend invited me to see Malmsteen playing at Rocky's the next night.
I was quite surprised since I thought he was still working on a new album.
He will also be in Atlanta next week(don't know where). I'll believe it
when I see it.
[A buddy back home said Yngwie will be at the Cell Block in
Philadelphia on March 4. -Ig]
From: Richard [email protected]>
Thanks for all the Malmsteen info! Is there any chance of him touring
Europe again soon? You seem to have the news items sooner than me, even
though I'm a Militia Member!
[Actually, I'm just a fan. I get my info from you guys. Keep it
coming! -Ig]
--Yngwie olds----
From: Muddy Mudskipper [email protected]>
Hey man, I've got some Yngwie stuff that you might like to put in your
next edition of Rising Force. I'm a memeber of Yngwie's fan club
(Malmsteen's Militia) and I've got some stuff from his newsletter.
Here are some stories behind some of Yngwie's song titles:
"Overture 1383" - That's one of my little jokes. Look on the bottom of
the Lowenbrau beer bottle; it says "brewed since 1383."
"Little Savage" - That was written for an old girlfriend of mine. Her
last name was Savage...she was pretty wild.
"Dreaming" - The original title was "Tell Me," but it was changed by the
brain surgeons at Polygram.
"Golden Dawn" - That's the name of a famous group of alchemists from the
1800's, the Order of the Golden Dawn.
"Leviathan" - It's a great fictional creature of the deep. No, I didn't
intentionally mean for the guitar to sound like whale songs in places,
but that's a pretty cool idea!!
"As Above, So Below" - That's a phrase I got from Alistair Crowley's
writings, but it's older than him. [The great Egyptian alchemist
Hermes Trismegistus proclaimed "As above, so below; as below, so
above," implying that Heaven and Earth, spirit and matter, invisible
and visible worlds are all one.]
"Memories" - That was written shortly after the death of my mother. I
missed her so much and felt really alone.
"How Many Miles to Babylon" - It's about how people struggle to get
something they think is so desirable, but they can't seem to reach it.
It's an ironic struggle, because Babylon was a city of sin, so maybe
their wonderful goal is rotten underneath.
"Final Curtain" - No, I wasn't writing about the actual end of the world.
I was thinking more of my own life and situation, and used that as a
metaphor for it.
"Fury" - The fury is my musical inspiration and overpowering drive to
become a musician. [laughs] Some people think it's about an old Swedish
myth or something, but it's not.
From: Richard [email protected]>
To: Stratos
The "As Above So Below" bootleg was made in Italy and features
the sound of the concert on the "Rising Force 1985" Malmsteen
video (Live in Japan somewhere). Quality is a bit less than the
video, and song order too.
To Kalle:
Apart from the usual Malmsteen demo tapes, the first bootleg
recording was made on what is believed to be his highschool,
Upplands Vasby in Sweden, on 16-10-1981. He plays most of the
stuff from his demos live. Sound quality isn't perfect, but the
stuff is most excellent. He sings himself. The songs he plays
include a lot of themes that would later get back in other songs
(especially some "Odyssey" songs).
The poll:
My ratings of Yngwie albums: Rising Force 9, Marching Out 7,
Trilogy 8, Odyssey 7.5, Live in Leningrad 8.5, Eclipse 7.5, Fire
& Ice 6.5. The Top 5 of songs: 1) Trilogy, 2) Icarus Dream Suite,
3) Crying, 4) Eclipse, 5) Perpetual. It's difficult to have a top
5, because he did about 10 classic songs (all of them
instrumental of course).
From the net: Clive [email protected]>
Yngwie has done guest work on several projects, including the Hear`n`Aid
project "Stars" and on his wife-to-be-but-now-divorced-from album Erika
(who I think wrote the lyrics for Devil in Disguise on Eclipse)
--Books----
From: Janell [email protected]>
I'm doing for the second supplement I'm compiling for my discography
_ROCKIN' THE CLASSICS AND CLASSICIZIN' THE ROCK_ (Greenwood Press 1985)
and its first supplement (1991). I've some examples in those books by
all types of rock including progressive (ELP, Yes, Ekseption, etc.), pop
rock, electronic, and of course heavy metal (Accept, Great Kat, Savatage,
Malmsteen, Europe, etc.)
A SCHOLARLY article on music that the Rising Force neoclassical forum
might find of interest is:
Walser, Robert. "Eruptions: Heavy Metal Appropriations of Classical
Virtuosity" POPULAR MUSIC, v.11:3 (1992), pp. 263-308 (a British
journal)
The text also appears as a chapter in Walser's book _RUNNING WITH THE
DEVIL: POWER, GENDER, AND MADNESS IN HEAVY METAL MUSIC_ (Wesleyan Univ.
Press/University Press of New England, 1993). Very interesting analysis,
and he mentions musicians you will be familiar with.
I enjoyed the first three issues of RISING FORCE alot. I knew alot of
things already and found copies of albums of others, but was left with
some partial information. Since I'm doing a discography of rock versions
of classics I need more details:
What is the title of the actual Chopin track (and its original name) on
the Tony MacAlpine album MADNESS? Also what year was it released, what
label, and what number?
[Tony MacAlpine has Chopin pieces on all 4 of his intstrumentals, but
they are played on piano in a classical style, not in a metal one.
There is however a track on Maximum Security (Squawk, 19??) that is
taken from Chopin's Porcelain Doll. -Ig]
What is the track on Racer X STREET LETHAL (Shrapnel 1986) that quotes
Paganini's Moto Perpetuo?
What are the Bach pieces Mekong Delta did? What are the album
details and classical sources?
What are the album details (year,label,number) of Helloween's WALLS OF
JERICHO? What is the track name for sure that uses Hall of the Mountain
King?
Was a live Europe album ever released (I read there was to be one)? I
need details if there is (especially if Flight of the Bumblebee is on
there). I have seen the concert video that has that on it.
Thanks to everyone emailing to RISING FORCE. It's very interesting and
very helpful to me.
Baroque'n'Roll Forever,
Janell Duxbury
From: Eddie [email protected]>
I was in Rose Morris in London the other day and noticed a book of guitar
tab which consisted of famous fast classical pieces (like the Flight of
the Bumblebee) arranged for lead guitar! Can't play it myself :-) but
maybe others would be interested. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the
book!
--Tony MacAlpine----
From: Hardrock Mailing List [email protected]>
Kip Winger is going solo. He has been writing new songs and hopes to
do some writing with ex-bandmate Paul Taylor. He is also talking with
guitarist Tony MacAlpine about teaming up on the project.
--Accept----
From: Janell [email protected]>
The actual classical pieces used are Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave and
Beethoven's Fur Elise. When I first listened to this song on my
turntable, the part that breaks into the Beethoven just gave me
goosebumps. I like the song a lot.
--Jason Becker----
From: Phil [email protected]>
I think it's incredibly sad that Jason's been stricken by this disease
when in the prime of his life. I heard his first album Perpetual Burn and
was just amazed that someone that was only 18 could play like that. Then
a few years later I heard that he'd been hit with Gehrig's. The last I
heard of him, he was no longer able to play guitar, but was still
producing and writing music with the aid of a computer. Now I hear that
it's gone so far that he can't even walk, write or speak anymore.
Does anyone know how much longer he's got to live? I hope for the
world's sake that it's long enough for someone to find a cure for it. The
world would be deprived of a fantastic musician and great person (I've
met him once, so I know) if Jason were to die. Rest easy, Jason. My heart
goes out to you.
From: Richard [email protected]>
Thanks even more for the Jason Becker info. Although I was
saddened to hear that things are not looking up for him (I'm
afraid miraculous muscle disease cures won't be in time for him)
I was also glad to hear he's keeping busy. Michael Lee Firkins is
a good guitarist so I look forward to hearing what the new album
will sound like.
--Savatage----
From: Richard [email protected]>
The "Prelude to Madness" of Savatage, as well as the bit in
Helloween's "Walls of Jericho" is indeed all by Edward Grieg, and
is indeed officially called "The Hall of the Mountain King".
From: Matt [email protected]>
"In The Hall of the Moutain King" is a section from Grieg's "Peer Gynt".
--Cacophony----
From: Richard [email protected]>
As to the 'heavy' Cacophony albums: They're the cream of the
cream. Each and every song, particularly on "Speed Metal
Symphony", is crammed with weird guitar work. I recall having
read an interview with Jason Becker in which he said that,
basically, he and Marty were just trying to put in as many weird
and difficult bits as possible. A singer was patched on later,
probably because Shrapnel wanted it. Both albums have really good
moments, though "Go Off!" has them less frequently.
--Bernd Steidl----
From: Richard [email protected]>
As to the "Ominous Guitarists": Did anyone notice that Bernd
Steidl is actually the only one with 2 songs? "In Venice" and
"Irrlichter" are two separate songs. Also, these versions are
DIFFERENT from the ones on "Psycho Acoustic Overture". I was on
the phone with Bernd the other day (a week or two ago). He will
soon do a second album, and he's spent the weeks prior to
Christmas touring through Germany. I would really like to hear
him play live... He claims he can do the stuff he does on any
nylon-stringed acoustic guitar as long as the strings are 'stiff'
enough.
I did an interview with Bernd Steidl some months ago. If
anyone's interested I can mail it some day.
[Go ahead and send it in! -Ig]
--Mekong Delta----
From the net: [email protected]>
Yesterday I saw the new album on a CD shop (the title slipped my mind
again, rats B-{ ) a another compilation, called "Mekong Delta Classics"
which contains their adaptions of pieces of (more or less) classical
music. There's stuff from the older albums on it (like the 'Psycho'
theme from Erich Zann) and some new stuff, at least one piece of Modest
Mussorgsky (Pictures of an Exhibition ...). The record label is "Arrrgh!
Records" (don't know how many rrr's there have to be ;-) ). You should
at least get them as an import but then, of course, quite expensive.
--Whistler Courbois Whistler----
From: Richard [email protected]>
I am not sure if people like Vai and Satriani belong to this
list. If so, I should like to add some stuff to the discography:
Whistler Courbois Whistler - "WCW", 1992
Whistler Courbois Whistler - "Privilege", 1993
They do instrumental music much in the vein of Satriani and Vai,
but with more of an oriental touch (not as much as Friedman's
"Scenes" though). Their guitarist is most talented, as well as
their bass player. The bass player left. The band is now called
Whistler and will do a CD mid this year. The bass player, Barend
Courbois, is rumoured to have joined a reunion Vandenberg and
recording in the US right now.
--Conception----
From: Clive [email protected]>
Anyone heard of a Norwegian 4-piece group called Conception. Their style
is that of neo-classical speed metal.. kind of like a combination of
Malmsteen meets Metallica meets Genesis, or something.. they have 2 CD`s
"Parallel Minds" and "The Last Sunset" both of which are at least
available here in Europe... I just recently got "The Last Sunset" and
have to say I thought it was a good CD, the guitarist is very good
indeed, in fact some of the acoustic work would have Malmsteen drooling.
He`s called Tor Ostby or something like that, and is responsible for
virtually all the music... Some of the highlights on the album are "Live
To Survive", "Among The Gods" and "Bowed Down With Sorrow" ... admittedly
some parts of the album suffer from the same thing as recent Malmsteen
albums, in that the musicianship is clearly much better than the actual
songs.. I`m told that Parallel Minds is better... still "The Last Sunset"
is a good effort considering the band recorded it themselves and mastered
it themselves, and they were all mostly teenagers when it was recorded
(in 1991, Parallel Minds is 1993).. the guitarist was only 19 when "The
Last Sunset" was recorded... The singer is good too, he was originally an
opera trainee, but it`s not the same kind of voice as say Geoff Tate from
Queensryche, or the dude from Veni Domine, (he`s Swedish, I can`t
remember how to spell it).. it`s a more soothing gentler voice.. I like
it... worth an investigation if you can get a listen...
--Memento Mori----
From the net: John [email protected]>
[Excerpt From Metal Trackin-Scene, Nov. 18, 1993 by Tim Lehman -Ig]
Memento Mori is comprised of some of the best talent to emerge from the
Scandanavian music scent, with of course Snowy Shaw (drums), Messiah
Marcolin formerly of Candelmass (vocals), Mike Wead of Hexenhaus and
King Diamond (guitar), Marty Marteen also of Hexenhaus (bass) and a
virtual unknown Nicky Argentine (guitar). When I asked Snowy to
describe the music, his response was no surprise. He explained that it
was a cross of Candlemass, due mainly to Messiah for his trademark
operatic style of vocals which has graced four Candlemass albums in the
past, and King Diamond which offers a technically classical flare
merging with the heavy stylings of Hexenhaus.
Rhymes of Lunacy is a brilliant, emotionally charged journey of some of
the best metal you can find on a 4" disc. The mood is set from the
beginning with the acoustical intro The Rhyme which leads into the
classical wailing solo of The Seeds of Hatred entangling tthe listener
into a wab of musical intrigue. Although the CD is a very solid
offering, there are a few tracks that really stand out. The Caravan of
Souls and Little Anne's Not an Angel showcase the band's technical
refinement. There is however, one song that surpasses all the others
and that is their amazing rendition of Michael Schenket Group's classic
piece Lost Horizons. For a band to even attempt this song makes them
worthy of an honourable mention for conspicouos bravery, but they
exceeded all expectations in a very credible fashion.
--Swedish Metal News----
From the net: John [email protected]>
Stuff from the latest Metal Maniacs-April 1994:
Abstract Algebra is the name of the new solo project of Candlemass
bassist Leif Edling, who is accompanied by King diamong/memento Mori
guitarist Mike Wead and ex-Treat/Swedish Erotica vocalist Matt Leven in
the group's current line-up (the latter two appear strictly as session
players, it should be noted). The band have recently completed work on
their debut demo at Stockholm's Sunlight Studios...Meanwhile,
Candlemass vocalist Thomas Vikstrom has just issued his debut solo CD,
If I Could Fly, through Sweden's Virgin Records, to whom the singer is
signed as a solo artist (Candlemass are presently labelless [and
probably dead as a band-Me]). The 13 song release features a musical
style best described as "commercial, radio-friendly pop rock," and
includes guest appearances from Talisman/ex-Yngwie/Slam/Eyes vocalist
Jeff Scott Soto (on backing vocals) as well as Talisman/ex-Yngwie/John
Norum bassist Marcel Jacob. Incidentally, Jacob also recently did
session work with the LA-based Billionaires Boys Club, which features
in its ranks former Accept guitarist Jorg Fischer, ex-Yngwie vocalist
Mark Boals (Marcus?) and ex-Silver Mountain/Yngwie drummer Anders
Johansson. The group, whose debut album, Something Wicked Comes, was
issued in early 1993 though Germany's Polydor Records, recently
completed a European tour as the support act for Doro Pesch (who is
presently dabbling in lame, Jack Penti-penned crap that is best left in
the hands of groups like Bon Jovi)...Speaking of Anders Johanssen, the
veteran skinsman's list of current projects also includes Snake
Charmer, a Swedish-based hard rock quartet whose debut CD (presently
available in only Sweden and Japan), features the songwriting talents
of former Silver Mountain bassist Per Stadin, while Anders'keyboardist
brother Jens Johanssen (also ex-Silver Mountain/Yngwie) himself lends a
hand during a couple of the album's cuts. Completing the Silver
Mountain connection, former guitarist/vocalist-turned-producer Jonas
Hansson digitallt edited the LP at a California studio in early 1993.
(End of the Swede stuff - intentionnally bad Valentine's pun)
--Misc----
From: Richard [email protected]>
I am looking for celebrity birthdays, including all those of
(neoclassical) guitarists and stuff. Please don't direct me to
online birthday/events servers, for they haven't got a clue to
this kind of thing. Please mail me personally at
[email protected] in case our dear digest manager
doesn't wish you to clutter up things here.
--Farewell----
